Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:40     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:I will do it before the middle school cuz it may be the last chance to do all family together vacation once kid starts the middle school.


I'm pulling my 7th grader (middle school), the week of thanksgiving. He'll be fine.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:21     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My parents took me on vacation a few times during school. I have no recollection of the topics of the homework I had to take with me, nor do I care. What I do recall is the memories we created. I will always remember riding bikes with my brother and me crashing into a tree because I couldn't brake down the hill.

People need to think more long term. In 20 years, no one will care about the missed geometry lessons that you can make up later.


I doubt OP's new middle schooler is doing geometry...OK, I know you meant that just as an example, but frankly, while this is doable for OP now, very soon it will be a problem for her kid to miss days of school.

My kid is in HS. By the time she was in eighth grade we were being told by teachers that many classes moved very quickly and missing days meant not just taking some homework with you or making up a little work, but having to do serious catch-up on things that were covered only once in class and which would not be covered again. So OP, be aware, that in years to come -- years coming up very soon -- if your kid misses one day, the result can be not just homework to make up, but a need to stay after school to see a teacher, or spending time before school or at lunch working on learning things that were taught while your child was out. Especially for kids in honors or other advanced classes, missing a day can make a difference and "making it up" is about more than just doing some extra homework.

Sorry to say that to all those who say "family time is more important," but by the time your kids are in HS, unless a trip is actually once in a lifetime or truly enriching -- taking them out creates stress for them.

So, what happens when they get sick? I guess that's not allowed either.
I missed 3 weeks of 8th grade due to a viral illness that left me bedridden. I made up ALL the work. It took time but it was not impossible.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:17     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."


You realize a lot of us work during the summer, right? And it may not be easy to take time off from June through August and/or have special family time
Not the person you're quoting but there is certainly more "family time" in the summer for me even though I still work full time. In the summer my kids will metro to a museum or a fun dinner place and I'll meet them there after work. We watch movies together on weekday evenings, play board games, cook together and just hang out and relax more in general than we ever do during the school year. There is definitely more of a laid back atmosphere in general. During the school year it's that rut of school, aftercare, sports practice, homework, dinner, shower, bed.

Now it can become a little more complicated when your kids start working a summer job, but that just requires planning. We usually plan our summer vacation 9-12 months in advance, that way my kid can always inform his employer upfront about days off when looking for summer work.

Now, I'm sure there are absolutely legitimate reasons a family would need to plan a fun, non-educational trip during the school year, but I think that at least 95% of the time it's not necessary.

I get 18 days of vacation a year. However, I cannot take all 18 days in the summer. I usually take 7-10 days during the summer - like a weeklong family trip and a long weekend family trip. I also take time off at Christmas- but again, work needs some people at work, so I usually only take 3-5 days. That leaves 5-8 more vacation days. I'd rather take my kids out of school, not deal with long lines and big crowds and high airfare and high hotel bills. It is totally worth having this family time.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:17     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:My parents took me on vacation a few times during school. I have no recollection of the topics of the homework I had to take with me, nor do I care. What I do recall is the memories we created. I will always remember riding bikes with my brother and me crashing into a tree because I couldn't brake down the hill.

People need to think more long term. In 20 years, no one will care about the missed geometry lessons that you can make up later.


I doubt OP's new middle schooler is doing geometry...OK, I know you meant that just as an example, but frankly, while this is doable for OP now, very soon it will be a problem for her kid to miss days of school.

My kid is in HS. By the time she was in eighth grade we were being told by teachers that many classes moved very quickly and missing days meant not just taking some homework with you or making up a little work, but having to do serious catch-up on things that were covered only once in class and which would not be covered again. So OP, be aware, that in years to come -- years coming up very soon -- if your kid misses one day, the result can be not just homework to make up, but a need to stay after school to see a teacher, or spending time before school or at lunch working on learning things that were taught while your child was out. Especially for kids in honors or other advanced classes, missing a day can make a difference and "making it up" is about more than just doing some extra homework.

Sorry to say that to all those who say "family time is more important," but by the time your kids are in HS, unless a trip is actually once in a lifetime or truly enriching -- taking them out creates stress for them.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:15     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
I'm only comfortable with missing 1 day for travel in MS-HS and no more than a couple times a year. Go when the kids have a Friday or Monday off and add one more day on the weekend for travel time. My kids (7th & 9th) will miss the Monday after Spring Break so we can stay through Easter Sunday with my family in CA and then fly home on Monday.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:14     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
I will do it before the middle school cuz it may be the last chance to do all family together vacation once kid starts the middle school.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:13     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Yes, I would, and yes, we have. Specifically for a trip to Disney and Universal when it's not hot, not crammed, and not outrageously expensive.
However, it's different if you're child misses a lot of school or if they struggle academically.
The message it sends? I don't know, planning and responsibility? You can plan ahead for what they will miss and make them do the work.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:09     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."


You realize a lot of us work during the summer, right? And it may not be easy to take time off from June through August and/or have special family time
Not the person you're quoting but there is certainly more "family time" in the summer for me even though I still work full time. In the summer my kids will metro to a museum or a fun dinner place and I'll meet them there after work. We watch movies together on weekday evenings, play board games, cook together and just hang out and relax more in general than we ever do during the school year. There is definitely more of a laid back atmosphere in general. During the school year it's that rut of school, aftercare, sports practice, homework, dinner, shower, bed.

Now it can become a little more complicated when your kids start working a summer job, but that just requires planning. We usually plan our summer vacation 9-12 months in advance, that way my kid can always inform his employer upfront about days off when looking for summer work.

Now, I'm sure there are absolutely legitimate reasons a family would need to plan a fun, non-educational trip during the school year, but I think that at least 95% of the time it's not necessary.


A vacation doesn't have to be "necessary." You do what's best for you and I'll do what's best for me. It's good for OP to hear both perspectives but "necessity" is the determining factor to us.
I guess I could have chosen a better way to say that? I meant, it's not necessary to do vacation during the school year - not that the vacation itself wasn't necessary.

And of course we all do what's best for our family. The OP asked a question on this board so that people would answer with their opinions. That's all I did.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 13:00     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:My MS and 4th grader are missing 2-3 days around Thanksgiving, but they were selected for a special achievement trip from a pool around the country. We are all going to Europe for it.



Ohh, I know exactly what you're talking about. You've been scammed, dear.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:52     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
We are going away the week of thanksgiving.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:48     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Do it. 6th grade does not matter. Family matters. I'm so sick of all the random work days and religious holidays that are of no use to me. Plus for public kids the winter break is just a week in MoCo. Not enough time for people who aren't from here to go a see family. Family time is important as and educational trip. It will all be over before you know it. You child will NOT end up a sign spinner on Rockville Pike if you take a couple of days before Thanksgiving to have a wonderful trip. Enjoy.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:43     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
My MS and 4th grader are missing 2-3 days around Thanksgiving, but they were selected for a special achievement trip from a pool around the country. We are all going to Europe for it.

Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:40     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."


You realize a lot of us work during the summer, right? And it may not be easy to take time off from June through August and/or have special family time
Not the person you're quoting but there is certainly more "family time" in the summer for me even though I still work full time. In the summer my kids will metro to a museum or a fun dinner place and I'll meet them there after work. We watch movies together on weekday evenings, play board games, cook together and just hang out and relax more in general than we ever do during the school year. There is definitely more of a laid back atmosphere in general. During the school year it's that rut of school, aftercare, sports practice, homework, dinner, shower, bed.

Now it can become a little more complicated when your kids start working a summer job, but that just requires planning. We usually plan our summer vacation 9-12 months in advance, that way my kid can always inform his employer upfront about days off when looking for summer work.

Now, I'm sure there are absolutely legitimate reasons a family would need to plan a fun, non-educational trip during the school year, but I think that at least 95% of the time it's not necessary.


A vacation doesn't have to be "necessary." You do what's best for you and I'll do what's best for me. It's good for OP to hear both perspectives but "necessity" is the determining factor to us.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:38     Subject: Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:DC just started middle school. We have been trying to take the kids to Universal and it would be much more affordable if we went during an off-season time, like the week before thanksgiving. Would it be a big deal to miss a few days? One part of me says no, DC is a good student and family vacations are important, while the other part is worried about missing days of 6th for vacation.


Middle School? I would not miss for a theme park. For a more educational/cultural trip, yes (if DC's grades were good).

Elementary, absolutely. I have taken DC out every year of ES for various trips (sometimes 2x/year) and would do it again. We've had absolutely no issues with it.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2017 12:36     Subject: Re:Would you miss 2-3 days of school for vacation?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd be very concerned with the message we're sending.
Especially considering we had the whole summer for "family time."


You realize a lot of us work during the summer, right? And it may not be easy to take time off from June through August and/or have special family time
Not the person you're quoting but there is certainly more "family time" in the summer for me even though I still work full time. In the summer my kids will metro to a museum or a fun dinner place and I'll meet them there after work. We watch movies together on weekday evenings, play board games, cook together and just hang out and relax more in general than we ever do during the school year. There is definitely more of a laid back atmosphere in general. During the school year it's that rut of school, aftercare, sports practice, homework, dinner, shower, bed.

Now it can become a little more complicated when your kids start working a summer job, but that just requires planning. We usually plan our summer vacation 9-12 months in advance, that way my kid can always inform his employer upfront about days off when looking for summer work.

Now, I'm sure there are absolutely legitimate reasons a family would need to plan a fun, non-educational trip during the school year, but I think that at least 95% of the time it's not necessary.